Maps on Vinyl - the influence that maps have had on album cover design over the last 85 years

Since 1939 maps have played an important role in the design of the album cover. Artists like Coldplay, Oasis, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Queen, The Grateful Dead, Depeche Mode and many more have used maps on their album sleeves to reinforce a lyrical story, to support an anti-establishment point of view or to raise important issues such as famine, suppression, war and inequality.

Almost every imaginable technique of map making has been employed in the creation of the album sleeves, from pen and ink, airbrush, paste up artwork and lettering to the latest technology in digital desktop publishing. This presentation demonstrates that maps should be considered as a foundational element of design, much like photography, illustration, typography, form, texture and colour are. It showcases a unique collection of vinyl sleeves that harness the power maps across almost every possible genre of music.

Speaker’s Bio
Damien Saunder has been designing maps all of his life, and has an abiding passion formusic. He has worked as director of cartography at National Geographic, chief cartographer on the world’s largest atlas, EARTH, and his work has been published in more than 100 publications through the likes of HarperCollins, Penguin, Macmillan and Wiley.

Damien has long been fascinated by the role that maps play in the art of the album cover, and Maps on Vinyl is a result of a decade-long obsession collecting vinyl records that feature maps.